Fascinating Poo, a Comedian on Mushrooms and a Nursing Home Going Wild

"Whatever the father of an illness, its mother is always nutrition". - Hippocrates, at a time when dates hadn't yet been invented.

May 08, 2024

Hello fellow gut owners,

This week's newsletter is going to be a quick one. I'm a bit behind on everything - reading, watching, writing, cleaning. Gee, my flat is a mess! But even in the midst of this chaos, I found time to watch a fascinating documentary about poo, listen to a hilarious podcast episode of Sarah Silverman tripping on mushrooms and read an article about elderly Belgians hitting the club. So this newsletter is a mix of shitting, tripping and dancing - what more could you ask for to spice up the second half of your week?

Cheers, Katie

P.S. If you come across any content you think I might enjoy, hit the reply button and let me know.

Hack Your Health: A Good Documentary with a Silly Title

I don’t know why Netflix didn’t have the guts (haha) to name its documentary directly "The Shit Show". Instead, they chose a title that implies a shortcut to a healthy lifestyle. Spoiler alert: this documentary isn't a shortcut or a hack, but it is an excellent insight into how your gut works. You'll learn about fascinating shit, your colon, digestion and, most importantly, the incredible microbiome that plays a vital role in your health.

Facts I found fascinating:

Diseases like depression, Parkinson’s, and Alzheimer’s are all related to the gut and the microbiome.
A diverse gut microbiome (for which you need a diverse diet) is more important than banning certain foods. Let's get rid of crazy food trends.
The gut is forgiving. Even if your diet has been bad for a while, changing it by eating more fibre can quickly improve gut health.
Stool transplants are a fascinating way to treat certain bowel conditions. I know. Yuck. But once you get over the disgusting thought, it's actually fascinating science that shows the important role the gut plays in health.

All in all, it's a great documentary with scientists like the very cool Julia Enders, who wrote a bestseller about the colon here in Germany, and Tim Spector, an expert in twin research, who provides the latest insights into the microbiome and good nutrition.

And well, the protagonists are also fascinating. There is for example this Japanese man who has lost his appetite due to competitive eating (boy, I'll never eat hot dogs again) or this young woman with severe constipation trying stool transplants to heal. I tell you: let’s get over the taboo because this shit is fascinating.

Who should watch it? Anyone who eats, digests and poops. Trust me, you'll learn a lot (and might start looking for kimchi recipes).

Time investment: 1 hour and 20 minutes

You can watch it here: Netflix Hack your Health – The Secret of Your Gut

Podcast: Sarah Silverman on Tripping on Mushrooms

I love Sarah Silverman. Full stop. She's hilarious and one of the women in showbiz I really admire. Her podcast is basically a solo comedy impro, where she talks, rants and answers questions from the audience.

Lately I've been very interested in psychedelic therapy and mushroom experiences. And then Sarah released an episode called "Mushrooms, tripping, breaking bones". Guys, the way she describes her tripping experience is pure comedy gold.

Who is it for? Psychedelic comedy lovers, I guess?

Time investment: 46 minutes

You can listen to it here: Apple Podcast, Spotify

Good Read: A Nursing Home Hitting the Best Club in Belgium

Berlin is famous for its club culture, and I think it's not just because of the great DJs and the clubs themselves, but because of the people. The best parties I ever had were with people of all ages. I love dancing with 20-year-olds as much as I do with 60- or 70-year-olds. And when I read an article in the Guardian about elderly Belgians going clubbing to combat loneliness, I thought: hell, YES.

I hope I'm lucky enough to grow old, and even if I end up in a nursing home, I really wish they'd take me to the best house club in town. Because no matter what my physical condition will be, I will ALWAYS be able to dance, move and let music into my body.

And on another note, I think this is exactly what our society needs - mixing and mingling regardless of age. And what better way to do that than to dance together in a club?

Who is it for? Everyone who loves to dance.

Time investment: A fast read, about 3 minutes

You can read it here: The Guardian: "We can live again’: Belgian nursing home residents hit the nightclubs

So guys, that was it. I wish you all a wonderful second half of the week with lots of fun on the loo, the dance floor or wherever and however you enjoy yourself.